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Old Tíjola train Station – Calar Alto (2,168 m) loop from Sierro

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Old Tíjola train Station – Calar Alto (2,168 m) loop from Sierro

Hard

riders

Old Tíjola train Station – Calar Alto (2,168 m) loop from Sierro

10:36

136km

3,670m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 21, 2026

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9.24 km

Old Tíjola train Station

Highlight • Historical Site

The old Tíjola train station is now disused, and the train track layout is now part of the Almanzor Valley greenway.

You can still see one of the diesel locomotives that passed through this station, now converted into a bar and restaurant.

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26.6 km

Las Menas Mining Village

Highlight • Historical Site

Mining town whose iron deposits were the most important and productive in the province of Almería for more than half a century. Built progressively with a hierarchical urban planning, it houses buildings of great architectural quality, among which the Hermitage of Santa Bárbara, the hospital, offices, the workers' pavilion, workshops and several houses for managers and technicians stand out.

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34.3 km

Collado del Conde

Mountain Pass

41.5 km

Sierras de Baza and Los Filabres

Highlight • Mountain Pass

Sierra de Baza and Sierra de Los Filabres are part of a remote mountain range over 2.000m height in the province of Granada and Almería, and the most isolated area of Badlands.

This mountain range was a historic crossroads of cultures, and its legacy includes remains of Roman aqueducts or Arab castles.

At the highest point of the range lies the iconic Calar Alto Observatory (2.168m), easy recognizable from far away.

The range also includes one of the most iconic and spectacular mountain pass in the Iberian Peninsula, el Puerto de Velefique (1.820m), popular by the high number of hairpin in the South side.

The South limit of Sierra de los Filabres reaches the village of Gérgal, considered the North gate of the Tabernas Desert.

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41.5 km

Calar Alto (2,168 m)

Highlight • Summit

The Cuatro Caminos pass is a strategic pass, it ends the important slopes and is key to keeping the route at the average altitude until the Caniles highway. The departure from the protected natural area of the mountain range is notable for the change in environment, there are traces of deforestation and the peaks of the mountain range look like plateaus reminiscent of other latitudes. In the background, the white spheres of the astronomical radars of Calar Alto finally appear, the ceiling of the cycle tour and the main challenge of the day. The route immediately leaves the road that goes down towards Escúllar and continues along the mountain range. The road surface is acceptable until the Loma de las Piedras de Ayala, the ground gets much worse and the slope is considerable, it is two uncomfortable kilometers to the natural viewpoint of the Piedras del Deseo, an inspiring name where there are some corrals and fantastic views of the Gulf of Almería, an arc bluish by the waves of the Mediterranean between Punta Entinas and Cabo de Gata. The track improves significantly, passing through the Pingarra hill and connecting with the road that goes up to Calar Alto. On the ditch there are signs for cyclists with the distance and percentage of the slope. The day we spent there was a blizzard, it was cloudy and we couldn't enjoy the views at all, a shame after the four long hours of climbing. Some souvenir photos, all the clothes on and at full speed to Bacares, a town that seems exiled in a wild and lonely corner of the Sierra de los Filabres, surrounded by ravines and mountains. Passing through the town is not obligatory, the main road passes through the detour, you can see the hamlet that is on the opposite slope and continue the descent towards Tíjola.

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46.3 km

La Merendera Recreation Area

Highlight • Rest Area

If you are passing through the Sierra de los Filabres near the summit of Calar Alto, the Fuente La Merendera is an almost mandatory stop at 1882 meters above sea level. This spring is famous for its fresh water that gushes from the metamorphic rocks of the mountains.
Officially, there is a sign warning that it is not drinkable, but that does not stop locals and many passers-by from queuing with jugs, attracted by its water. Although, it is a good idea to filter the water before drinking it.
If you need a long break, just across the road you will find a recreational area complete with tables, barbecues, and a viewpoint with spectacular views.

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